All-Area Boys Tennis: Buxbaum selected as Player of the Year

North Penns' Mike Buxbaum returns a shot during his match against Central Bucks Easts' Connor Peckham in the SOL Continental Tennis Tournament at Hatboro Horsham High School on Saturday April 21,2012. Photo by Mark C Psoras\The Reporter

If someone asked North Penn High tennis player Mike Buxbaum how his 2013 scholastic season was and he replied “just perfect,” the Knights’ court ace shouldn’t be accused of being braggadocio or facetious. He would simply be telling the truth.

After posting an undefeated record during the regular season, Buxbaum followed with similar results during the postseason.

First, he won the Suburban One League Continental Conference singles title. Then, he won the gold medal in the District One Class AAA tournament. Buxbaum capped his season by winning the PIAA Class AAA tournament singles title.

As a result, Buxbaum has been selected as the 2013 Times Herald Boys Tennis Player of the Year. It marks the third consecutive year that the North Penn senior has won the honor.

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“I definitely had some close matches this season,” said Buxbaum. “The semifinal in districts was pretty tough and so was the semifinal in states. And the scores of the state final — 6-0, 6-4 — didn’t reflect how the match was played.

“Getting the gold medal at states was my goal this season. Anything less than winning the state title would have been a disappointment. I know how important it is to set the goals high.”

At the PIAA Class AAA Championships, Buxbaum opened with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over District 9 champion Colton Ames from DuBois High. In the quarterfinals, he faced District 10 champion Nicholas Ward from Erie Cathedral Prep and won 6-1, 6-2.

In the state semifinals, the Knights’ powerful veteran logged a 7-5, 6-2 win over District Seven runner-up Peter Hazlett from Mount Lebanon High. In the state title match, he played Greensburg Central Catholic’s Adam Blasinsky and defeated the District Seven champion 6-0, 6-4.

Buxbaum, who had a bye in the opening round of the District One AAA singles championships, started off with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Downingtown East’s Nate Schwartz and then defeated Wissahickon’s Bee Callahan 6-4, 6-1 in the quarterfinals.

He faced fourth-seeded Brian Grodecki from Conestoga in the semifinals and logged a 6-2, 6-4 win over the Pioneers’ top player. Buxbaum’s opponent for the finals — Unionville’s Johnny Wu — chose to default because of illness, so Buxbaum followed the walkover path to the gold medal.

“I didn’t want to win like that,” said Buxbaum. “Johnny is a good player and I would have preferred to win the gold medal on the court.”

At the Suburban One League Continental Conference tournament, Buxbaum cruised to his fourth straight conference title. He defeated Pennridge’s Chanton Phan 6-2, 6-2 in the gold medal match at The Tennis Zone in Quakertown. In the semifinals, Buxbaum eliminated Pennridge’s Chandat Phan 6-0, 6-0.

“I’ve shown a lot of physical improvement over my four years here because I’ve gotten bigger, taller and stronger,” said Buxbaum. “I grew five inches from ninth to 10th grade. Now, I’m around 6-2 and I weigh around 210. I’m big for a tennis player but my legs are in great shape.

“There also have been huge improvements in my game. The big thing was the serve. I won on it a lot. It won me so many free points — definitely a lot of aces and free points. I also became a lot better on my ground stroke.”

In the fall, Buxbaum will enroll at Johns Hopkins University as a biology major. He will also play tennis for the Blue Jays.

“I liked the school for its academics and its tennis,” said Buxbaum. “The team is really good there. They were in the Top 6 this year in NCAA Division III and everyone is down-to-earth. I was really happy to get into the school.”